fame came to Jefus by night, and faid unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do thefe miracles that thou doeft, except God be with him. Jefus anfwered and faid unto him, Vertly verily I fay unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of God. Nicodemus faith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the fecond time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jefus anfwered, Verily verily I fay unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is fpirit. Marvel not that I faid unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou heareft the found thereof, but can't not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: fo is every one that is born of the Spirit. B After which be fhall fay this Exhortation following: Eloved, ye hear in this Gofpel the exprefs words of our Saviour Chrift, that except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great neceffity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewife immediately before his afcenfion into heaven (as we read in the laft chapter of Saint Mark's Gofpel) he gave command to his difciples, faying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gofpel to every creature: He that believeth and is baptized, fhall be faved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned. Which alfo fheweth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which caufe Saint Peter the Apoftle, when upon his first preaching of the Goffel many were pricked at the heart, and faid to him and the reft of the Apoftles, Men and brethren, what fhall we do? replied and faid unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remiffion of fins, and ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft: for the promise is to you and your children,a nd to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, faying, Save yourfelves from this untoward generation. For (as the fame Apostle teftifieth in another place) even Baptism doth alfe now fave us (not the putting away of the filth of the Hefh, but the answer of a good confcience towards God) by the refurrection of Jefus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive these prefent perfons, truly repenting and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant them remiffion of their fins, and bestow upon them the Holy Ghoft; that he will give them the bleffing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlafting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus perfuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards these perfons, declared by his Son Jefus Chrift; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and fay, God, heavenly Father, we Lmighty and everlafting give thee humble thanks, for that thou haft vouchfafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee; Increate this knowledge, and confirm Queff. De Father Al this faith in us evermore: Give thy Holy Spirit to thefe perfons, that they may be born again, and be made beirs of everlasting falvation, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Then the Priest fhall fpeak to the Perfons to be baptized on this wife: WELL-beloved, who are come hither, defiring to receive holy Baptifm, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed that our Lord Jefus Chrift would vouchfafe to receive you and bless you, to releafe you of your fins, to give you the kingdom of heaven and everlafting life. Ye have heard alfo that our Lord Jefus Chrift hath promifed in his holy word to grant all thofe things that we have prayed for; which promife he for his part will moft furely keep and perform. Wherefore after this promife made by Christ, ye muft alfo faithfully for your part promife in the prefence of thefe your Witneffes, and this whole congregation, that ye will renounce the devil and all his works, and conftantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his Commandments. Then fhall the Prieft demand of each of the Perfons to be baptized, feverally, thefe Questions following. Quest. DOT devil and all his thou renounce works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous defires of the fame, and the carnal defires of the flesh, fo that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them? Anfw. I renounce them all, OST thou believe in mighty, Maker of heaven and earth? And in Jefus Christ his only, begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghoft; born of the Vir gin Mary, that he fuffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rife again the third day; that he afcended into heaven and fitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence hall come a gain at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead? And doft thou believe in the Holy Ghoft; the holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remiffion of fins; the Refurrection of the flesh and everlasting Life after death? Anf. All this iftedfaftly believe, Quelt thou be baptized in this faith? Anfw. That is my desire, Queff.lt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the fame all the days of thy life? do, Anfw. I will endeavour fo to Then fhall the Prieft fay, Merciful God, grant that Me old Adam in thefe perfons may be fo buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen. Grant that all carnal affecall things belonging to the Spitions may die in them, and that rit may live and grow in them. Amen. Grant that they may have power and ftrength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flefh. Amen. Grant Grant that they being here dearcated to thee by our Office and Ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O bleffed Lord God, who doft live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. be fhall not be an amed to confefs the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against fin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Chrift's faithful foldier and fervant unto his life's end. Amen. Almighty everliving ved Sti whofe most dearly beloved Son Jefus Chrift, for the forgiveness of our fins, did fhed out of his moft precious fide both water and blood, and gave commandment to his difciples, that they fhould go teach all nations, and baptize them, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Regard, we beseech thee, the fupplications of thy congregation: fanctify this water to the myftical washing away of fin: and grant that the perfons now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Then fhall the Prieft take each perfon to be baptized by the right band, and placing him conveniently by the Font, according to his difcretion, shall afk the Godfathers and Godmothers the Name; and then fhall dip bim in the water, or pour water upon him, faying, N. I baptize thee, In the of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. Amen. Then fall the Prieft fay, ¶ Then shall the Priest say, Eeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that thefe perfons are regenerate, and grafted into the body of Chrift's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. Then fhall be faid the Lord's UR Father which art in Ε WE yield thee humble thanks, O heavenly Fa ther, that thou haft vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee; Increafe this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us ever more. Give born again, and made heirs of thefe perfons, that being now everlasting falvation, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, they may continue thy fervants, and at WErective congregation of tain thy promifes, through the Priest ball make Here the Christ's flock; and a Crofs upen the do* fign him with Perfon's forebead. the fign of the Crofs; in token that hereafter fame Lord Jefus Chrift thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the fame Holy Spirit everlastingly. Amen. Then Then all Anding up, the Priest fhall ufe this Exhortation fol lowing; Speaking to the Godfa thers and Godmothers firft. Forafmuch as the perforeence Orafmuch as thefe perfons have to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to ferve him; ye muft remember that it is your part and duty to put them in mind what a folemn vow, promife, and profeffion they have now made before this congregation, and efpecially before you their chofen witneffes. And ye are alfo to call upon them to ufe all diligence to be rightly inftructed in God's holy Word, that fo they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and live godly, righteoufly, and foberly in this prefent world, And then speaking to the new baptized Perfons, he shall proceed, and fay,) Chrift, it is your part and duty AND as for you, who have now by Baptism, put on alfo, being made the children of God, and of the light by faith in Jefus Chrift, to walk anfwerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh, the children of light: remembering always that Baptifm reprefenteth unto us our profeffion; which is to follow the example of our Saviour Chrift, and to be made like unto him; that as he died, and rofe again for us; fo fhould we, who are baptized, die from fin, and rife again unto righteoufnefs, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. It is expedient that every Perfon, thus baptized, fhould be confirmed By the Bishop, fo foon after bis Baptifm as conveniently may be; that fo be may be admitted to the Holy Communion. If any Perfons not baptized in their Infancy, fhall be brought to be baptized before they come to years of difcretion to answer for themfelves; it may fuffice to use the Office for Publick Baptifm of Infants, or (in cafe of extreme danger) the Office for Private Baptifm, only changing the word (Infant) for (Child or Perfon) as occafion requiretb. A CATECHISM; that is to fay, an Inftruction, to be learned of every Perfon, before he be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop. Question. is your Name? W Arfwer. N. or M. Anfwer. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptifm; wherein I was made a member of Chrift, the Child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. Queft. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you? Anfw. They did promife and www three things in my name; Firft that I fhould renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the finful lufts of the flesh. Secondly, that I fhould believe all the Articles of the Chriftian Faith. And thirdly, that I fhould keep God's holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the fame all the 'days of my life. Queft. Doft thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do, as they have promifed for thee? Anfw. Anfwer. I Believe in God the Father and mighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jefus Chrift his only Son our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghoft, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He defcended into hell; The third day he refe again from the dead; He afcended into heaven, And fitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he fhall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghoft; The holy catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of fins; The Refurrection of the Body; And the Life everlafting. Amen. Surft. What doft thou chiefly learn in thefe Articles of thy belief? Anfw. First, learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world. Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghoft, who fanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God. Queft. You faid that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promife for you, that you mould keep God's command ments Tell me how many there be? Anfw. Ten.. Quest. Which be they? in the twentieth Chapter of HE fame which God fpake Exodus, faying, I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the houfe of bondage. I. Thou fhalt have none other gods but me. II. Thou shalt not make to the file acts of avey the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the fins of the fathers upon the chil dren, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and hew mercy unto thoufands in them that love me, and keep my commandments. III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain. IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days fhalt thou labour, and do all that thou haft to do: but the feventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: In it thou fhalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy fon and thy daughter, thy man-fervant, and thy maid-fervant, thy cattle, and the ftranger that is within thy gates. For in fix days the Lord made heaven and earth, the fea, and all that in them is, and refted the feventh day: wherefore the Lord bleffed the feventh day, and hallowed it. V. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long |